Food

Slow Food’s Guide to Hawai‘i Island Grown Food

Hawaii Island grown food is everywhere – you just have to know where to look for it. It could be right next door to you, at a farmers’ market, at your closest supermarket or served up in hole in the wall and first class dining establishments. We’ve compiled this list of markets, farms and restaurants to help you find and eat Hawaii Island grown food. It is by no means a complete listing of the hundreds upon hundreds of farmers, ranchers and businesses on Hawaii Island. But it’s a start. Some farmers are small and sell directly to the consumer from their farm or at farmers’ markets. You’ll have to contact them directly for their products. Many farmers, especially large producers, sell their products to wholesalers and retailers, making access to these items convenient for everyone. But sometimes there’s no way to tell where a product is from when you go to a supermarket. Some supermarkets label their produce and tout the local origin of their products, others don’t. When in doubt, ask! Many farmers also sell their products directly to the restaurants and hotels where they are served so their products may not be available on a retail level. Often, menus will display the names of farmers supplying the restaurant. Another tip: Look for the words “Island Fresh” or the “Hawaii Seal of Quality” on product packages and stickers – it’s a sure bet that item is Hawaii grown. FYI: besides this guide, there is now a list of Big Island Farmers Markets and CSAs on the Hawaii HomeGrown website.

Farms, Markets and Restaurants by District, Community Supported Agriculture

These are generally small farms which supply a weekly box of fresh produce/fruits from their farms to subscribers, an excellent way to know your farmer and eat fresh, seasonally, local food.

Grass-fed Beef

Places you can buy locally-raised, healthy grass-fed beef on the Big Island:

KTA SuperStores: Puainako, Downtown Hilo, Waimea, Kailua, Keauhou

Island Naturals Market & Deli: Hilo and Kailua

Save ‘n Save, Hilo

Keaukaha Market, Hilo

Foodland, Waimea

Takata Stre Inc., Kohala

Trini’s Mixed Plate, Kona

Kealia Ranch Store, Kona

ChoiceMart, Kealakekua, Kona

Oshima Brothers, Kainaliu (Kona)

Waikoloa Village Market, Waikoloa

Island Gourmet Markets, Queens Market Place, Waikoloa

T. Kaneshiro Stores, Honokaa

JJ’s Country Market, Honokaa

Malama Market, Pahoa

Puna Fresh Foods, Kea’au

Island Market, Na’alehu

Pohoa Cash & Carry, Pahoa

J. Hara Store, Kurtistown

Volcano Store, Volcano

Da Store, Hawaiian Beaches

Orchidland General Store, Orchidland

Brands to Buy

When you see these brands at supermarkets, farmers markets and other retail locations, you know you’re buying Hawaii Island grown products! These are some of the widely distributed products from Hawaii Island. Tip: Look for the words “Island Fresh” or the “Hawaii Seal of Quality” on product packages and stickers – it’s a sure bet that item is Hawaii grown.

Fish

Although Hawai’i is surrounded by an abundant ocean, only some of the fish sold here in stores and restaurants is Slow Fish – good, clean, and fair. Know your seafood! There is a detailed sustainable seafood guide (Hawai’i specific!) as well as a printable wallet-sized guide (pdf). Ask: Where is the seafood from? Is it farmed or wild? How was it caught?

Join Slow Food

Slow Food Hawaii is a chapter of Slow Food USA. Click on this link (SlowFoodUSA) to go to the Slow Food USA home page where you can find membership information. Select "Hawaii" as your primary chapter.